Principal R-D Engineer

MiniMed; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

MiniMed is seeking a Principal R&D Engineer to join the Northern California office in Northridge. This onsite role leads development efforts for next-generation CGM products using DRM and DMAIC methodologies, coordinating with regulatory, quality, reliability, and clinical teams.

The candidate will drive failure analysis across product development, mentor teams, and ensure designs meet regulatory and international standards while delivering robust test methods and validation strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a related engineering field with relevant professional experience.
• Experience in R&D for medical devices or similar high-reliability products.
• Ability to lead root cause investigations and implement corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of tools for effective problem-solving and root cause investigation.
• Identify issues proactively and resolve problems of significant complexity.
• Troubleshoot and determine root causes in microfabricated biosensors.
• Develop verification strategies and equipment for product testing and reliability evaluation.
• Document protocols and reports throughout product development.
• Lead CAPA-driven product improvement efforts.
• Present findings to cross-functional teams and management.

Skills

Problem-solving

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering or Chemical Engineering or related engineering field

Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related engineering field

Tools

DMAIC

Design for Reliability and Manufacturability

Job description

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 30 Nov 2026

At MiniMed, you can begin a lifelong career of exploration and innovation, while helping make a difference in the lives of people living with diabetes around the globe. You’ll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation for a more connected, compassionate world.

About the Role

MiniMed is looking for a Principal R-D Engineer to join our office Northridge CA. This role is onsite 5 days per week.

This role is within Medtronic Diabetes – Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Sensor R&D team. In this role, you will be responsible for leading improvement efforts in the development of next generation CGM products and sustaining R&D. There will be strong emphasis on utilizing Design for Reliability and Manufacturability (DRM) principles and problem-solving methodologies (DMAIC). You will be responsible for leading the Failure Analysis efforts throughout different phases of sensor product development.

In this role the individual will be interfacing with other R&D functions, regulatory, quality, reliability, and clinical teams as appropriate.

Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned.

Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned:

• Lead the development and implementation of tools and methodologies for effective problem-solving, failure analysis and root cause investigation.
• Proactively identify issues, achieve resolution, and resolve problems of significant complexity.
• Troubleshooting and identifying the root cause of failures in complex microfabricated electrochemical biosensors.
• Develop test methods and strategies to support early feasibility, characterization, and qualification of processes.
• Document protocols and reports at various stages of product development.
• Design and develop advanced new test methods, improve existing test methods, measurement techniques, and fixtures.
• Develop verification and validation test strategies and equipment to enable the execution of product testing and perform analysis to evaluate designs for short and long-term performance and reliability.
• Present information to cross functional audiences and management.
• Conduct hands‑on lab work, define failure analysis strategy, and recommend corrective actions/fixes to failures at different phases of product development.
• Ensure designs meet and exceed product specifications, regulatory requirements, national and international standards.
• Lead product improvement efforts through CAPAs.

TECHNICAL SPECIALIST CAREER STREAM:

• An individual contributor with responsibility in our technical functions to advance existing technology or introduce new technology and therapies.
• Formulates, delivers, and/or manages projects assigned and works with other stakeholders to achieve desired results. May act as a mentor to colleagues or may direct the work of other lower level professionals.
• The majority of time is spent delivering R&D, systems or initiatives related to new technologies or therapies – from design to implementation - while adhering to policies, using specialized knowledge and skills.

DIFFERENTIATING FACTORS

Autonomy:

• Recognized expert, managing large projects or processes.
  Exercises considerable latitude in determining deliverables of assignments, with limited oversight from manager.
• Coaches, reviews and delegates work to lower level specialists.

Organizational Impact:

• Contributes to defining the direction for new products, processes, standards, or operational plans based on business strategy with a significant impact on work group results.
• May manage large projects or processes that span outside of immediate job area.

Innovation and Complexity:

• Problems and issues faced are difficult, moderately complex and undefined, and require detailed information gathering, analysis and investigation.
• Develops solutions to moderately complex problems, and/or makes moderate to significant improvements of processes, systems or products independently to enhance performance of job area.
  Implements solutions to problems.

Communication and Influence:

• Represents organization as a primary contact for specific projects and initiatives; communicates with internal and external customers and vendors at various levels.
• May negotiate with others to reach understanding or agreement, and influence decision‑making.

Leadership and Talent Management:

• Typically provides guidance, coaching and training to other employees within job area.
• Typically manages major / moderately complex projects, involving delegation of work and review of work products, at times acting as a team leader.

Must Have: Minimum Requirements

To be considered for this role, please ensure the minimum requirements are evident on your resume.

• Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or related Engineering field with 7+ years of professional experience or Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related Engineering field with 5+ years of professional experience;

#BetterDaysStartNow

Nice to Have

• Medical Device Industry Experience
• Experience in product design and development in an R&D environment
• Experience in mechanical and/or electrochemical systems
• Direct experience in characterization, design of experiments and data analysis methodologies (T-test, ANOVA and significance testing at a minimum)
• Knowledge about in‑vitro and in‑vivo testing of subcutaneous medical devices

Physical Job Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position.

The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer and communicate with peers and co‑workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.

Benefits & Compensation

MiniMed offers a competitive salary and flexible benefits package

At MiniMed, we put people first. A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values: We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help create. We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every stage of your career and life.

Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$109,000.00 - $185,000.00

For roleslocatedin California, Seattle WA, Washington DC, Boston MA, and New York City, the salary range is $121,000.00- $205,000.00USD.

Actual compensation may vary based on factors including experience, education, certifications, skills, market conditions, internal equity, and geographic location. Compensation and benefits informationpertainssolely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others).

This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Short Term Incentive (STI).

At MiniMed, we are committed to supporting the well‑being and financial security of our employees. Regular employees working 20 or more hours per week are eligible for a robust benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as access to a Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, life insurance, long‑term disability leave, and a dependent daycare spending account. In addition, all regular employees enjoy incentive plans, a 401(k) plan with company match, short‑term disability coverage, paid time off and holidays, participation in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and access to our Employee Assistance Program. Eligible employees may also benefit from our Non‑qualified Retirement Plan Supplement and Capital Accumulation Plan, subject to IRS minimum earnings requirements. Please note that "regular employees" refers to those who are not temporary staff, such as interns, and some benefits may not apply to employees in Puerto Rico.

For further details about our comprehensive benefits, we encourage you to visit the link below.

MiniMed Benefits Overview

About MiniMed

MiniMed is a full‑stack insulin delivery company dedicated to supporting people living with diabetes through every step of their journey — when and how they need it. For more than 40 years, we’ve been committed to redefining what’s possible: intelligent dosing systems designed for real life, predictive insights that stay a step ahead, and always on support when it’s needed most. At the heart of everything we do is a simple Mission: to make every day a better day for people with diabetes.

Learn more about our business, and our mission here.

It is the policy of MiniMed to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, familial status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, MiniMed will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

If you are applying to perform work for MiniMed in any position that will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which MiniMed reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. MiniMed will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.